Date of Award

1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Science

First Advisor

Dr. Saleh Abdel Hamid Ibrahim

Second Advisor

Dr.Mohammed Attia Sheradeh

Third Advisor

Dr.Gamal Abdul - Aal

Abstract

The possible toxic effect of crude oil and dispersant on the reproduction and performance of common marine fish in the United Arab Emirates coasts were investigated. Adult female and juvenile rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus) were exposed to different concentration of Sharjah light crude oil (0, 4, 6 ml crude oil/l) in the presence or absence of 0.3 mI/l Nalfleet dispersant (Maxi-Clean 2) dissolved in sea water. Juvenile fish were exposed to treatments for 3, 6, 9 or 15 days and adult female were treated for 18 days. At the end of each experimental period histopathological changes in the skin, gills, liver and ovary, as well as two biomarker indicators (cytochrome P450 and 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase, EROD) activity were examined. Results indicated that treatment with dispersant induced a greater histopathological changes on adult female and juvenile rabbitfish skin, gills and liver than did a mixture of crude oil plus dispersant. Whereas, the effect of a mixture of crude oil plus dispersant had a greater effect than did dispersant only on the female ovary. In addition, high concentration (6ml/l) of crude oil, crude oil plus dispersant or dispersant only induced both cytochrome P450 and EROD activities. In conclusion, the present study documents for the first time that both crude oil and dispersant induced histopathological changes in fish tissues and altered folicular development in adult rabbitfish. Crude oil and dispersant toxicity were also demonstrated by induction of both cytochrome P450 and EROD activity.

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